The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-04-02
HOME OF TEE zUNIS.
An Interesting Visit to the Ancient Home
of the Cliff Dwellers in Mexico.

Probably many of your readers have heard of
the Cliff Dwellers of the southwest, but more than
likely few have eyer witnessed these sights OF an
tiquity, as they have been penetrated by only
small number of inhabitants of these parts, owing
to the hostile state of the Apache Indians. Well,
on leaving Socorro about the center of this Terri
tory, with our burros packed with provisions for
six months prospecting trip, we, four in number,
travelled west over hills of sand and mountains of
rock, picking our way through cactus and sage,
for distance of 100 miles, we brought up at the
Old Zunis To describe these houses built in the
side wall of the canon in which they are located,
will probably never fully be told, as they have
been unoccupied for the past century. We built
our campfire, prepared supper, and waited for
the morning sun, at which time we devised our
plan how to ascend this mammoth ledge Of rock
to the entrance of the houses, which are located
midway up the cliff, some $50 feet from the base.
Finally we gathered together ropes and raw hides
enough to reach from the top of the cliff to the
bottom of the canon. This done, two of our party
proceeded in o round about way to reach the sum-
NIT of the rocks to fasten the ropes securely
enabling us to climb to the entrance. After max
inc our ascent we were somewhat surprised to find
what appeared from the bottom to be a COMPARE
tiyely small town, mammoth cavern for capac-
ity of nothing less than 10000 souls. Our enter
once seemed what was used as their hall way, rum
ming back through the granite rock for distance
of nearly thousand feet, then extending on both
sides were apartments which were probably con-
signed to one family each. About the center of
this hallway was another passage leading In the
opposite direction added to which are still others
Of less dimensions. After exploring these pas
sages of darkness we began to investigate the
rooms. In many places we found things left as
though it were but yesterday the inhabitants were
living there as pottery of all description, stone
hammers. carved idols Gods, carvings of TERRAIN
tulas. snakes beasts of the forest, etc. In one OF
these openings we found skeleton, which was
once the tail, straight form Of Zuni, but from
years of decay was now but the crumbled slack as
soft as ashes The largest room, we all decided as
having been their council chamber, as nothing OF
importance was found there save pieces of paint
and what appeared to be musical instruments
made entirely of wood, which were yet as hard as
iron. and were most likely used at their war
dances In the center Of this vacancy stood the
largest carving we found, which was made to IN
dictate their God of salvation God of war. After
gathering what trinkets desired, we proceeded to
retire. Instead of descending we assembled to the
ton of the cliff, where there was large basin OF
water. held there as it fell from the heavens, to
supply the town with water. Further back was
plantation of cactus which was almost impossible
to penetrate save through the decade portions
which served as q gateway for US to pass. THESE
were most likely used as hindrance to the enc
my approaching from the back of the cliff. Well
satisfied with our trouble, we moved on, each
thinking in deep silence the fate of all who had
entered this valley of death in years gone by. As
we proceeded on we came to camp of Apaches,
where we learned these Notifications had not been
occupied in their time, butt older ones said they
- cd tall of fnroa hat.
ties they had fought with the jewellers of the cliff,
who were, by surprise, finally conquered and re-
duced in number by the combined force Of the
Navsjos, Pueblos and Apaches. TheremainiDg
Zunis, who number scarcely 300, are now living
in peace near the Great Canon del Colorado.